MOSCOW, July 12 (RAPSI) – Russian investigators have launched a case against Dmitry Pavlov, an alleged organizer of the Misanthropic Division extremist organization who participated in Euromaidan and war conflict in Donbas, the Investigative Committee’s spokesman Vladimir Markin told RAPSI on Tuesday.

The criminal case has been launched against Pavlov, who fled to Germany, under the Criminal Code’s Articles on creating an extremist organization, calls for terrorism and rehabilitation of Nazism, Markin said.

Investigators believe that Pavlov organized Misanthropic Division as a subcultural movement in order to “reinforce his positions among nationalists” and “earn a profit on selling Nazi attributes” in October 2013.

In 2014, when revolutionary movements started in Ukraine, the organization’s activity assumed an international character and became more radical, according to Russia’s Investigative Committee. Misanthropic Division created branches in 19 countries including Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Germany, France, Poland, England and other European states.

Pavlov and his associates promote on the social media racist and neo-Nazi ideas; publicly call to terrorism and extremism; “incite hatred and enmity for a number of nationalities; speak disrespectfully of the Days of War Glory and memorable dates in Russia connected with defense of fatherland,” Markin said.

Extensive searches are conducted in the Arkhangelsk Region, Moscow, Bashkortostan and other territorial entities of Russia in relation to this case.